According to his theory, individuals are motivated by the needs located a step above the minimum needs that are fulfilled. Once a set of needs have been fulfilled, they are not likely to get fulfillment from needs at lower levels. People are also not likely to get motivated by an environment that will fulfill needs at a high level when their low level needs have not yet been fulfilled.

According to Frederick Herzberg, an employee's motivation is affected by factors like recognition, achievement, recognition, challenges, quality of work content, growth, and advancement. Factors like the administration, salary, and company policies produce dissatisfaction. Herzberg figured out that there are other factors needed to keep employees from being demotivated and to produce an environment that will motivate them. These factors affect the policies and administration, the supervision received during the job, interpersonal relations, working conditions, salary, and security. Although these do not necessarily make employees more motivated, it decreases dissatisfaction and brings peace and order to the workplace.

Job satisfaction is a multifaceted and complex notion that means different things to different individuals. Although job satisfaction is linked to motivation, the relationship between the two is not very clear because satisfaction is very different from motivation. Job satisfaction has more to do with a person's attitude and is typically associated with a feeling of achievement. The relationship between job satisfaction and individual performance is still an issue of controversy and differing opinions. One view says that satisfaction leads to improved performance, whereas another says performance leads to better job satisfaction.

Individual performance is typically determined by three different factors: motivation, ability, and work environment and information needed to get the job done. Motivation is the desire to do the job, and ability is the person's capability to do the job. Medical students go through rigorous education and training programs to provide them with the ability to handle various cases. During their residency they receive training from the best doctors in their required field. Ability is not usually a problem. But when motivation becomes the issue, the task is more challenging. It's not often easy to figure out why a person is not motivated enough and how this behavior can be changed. Thus, motivation plays an important part since it directly affects individual performance.

Respect can be shown by simple but powerful actions. These tips will give you ideas on how you might show respect at work while helping you avoid needless disrespect.

Encourage your coworkers to express their ideas and listen to what they have to say before you say what you think. Do not cut off someone while he or she is still speaking.

Use your coworkers' ideas to improve work. Let them know if their idea has been used, or encourage that person to implement the idea.

Treat your coworkers equally, no matter what their gender, religion, race, age, or size is. Treating people differently based on these can constitute as harassment.

Make sure your coworkers are involved in all meetings, discussions, and events. Although not everyone can take a lead role in these activities, make sure nobody is excluded either. Provide equal opportunities for all to be a part of committees or teams.